Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman
In 1955, Allen Ginsberg, a previously unpublished 29 year-old beat generation poet, revealed his vision of the world in his poem Howl. It was a cry of pain and protest from someone who felt that his homosexuality set him apart, and he actually spent eight months in a mental institution being given electro-shock treatment before he promised the doctors that he would become heterosexual in order to gain his release. Solomon, a fellow patient and friend, was not so lucky and ended up being given a lobotomy. We know this because Solomon made his way into Ginsberg’s iconic poem Howl.
The film is very powerful. As Ginsberg (James Franco) reads his poem, his publisher is shown in court two years later, charged with publishing an obscene work. Prosecution lawyer (David Strathairn) is debating the worthiness of particular lines and wanting to censor explicit parts of the work while the defense lawyer (Jon Hamm) is bringing forth experts to defend the public statement of feelings, emotions and attitudes. The animated sequences that bring the poem to life add to the intensity of Ginsberg’s raw emotions as the battle against literary censorship continues. Interviews with Ginsberg are also recreated using Franco, and footage of the real Ginsberg and his partner Peter Orlovsky (played by Aaron Tveit in the film) are edited in as true life and dramatisation merge.
Howl is part of the cutting-edge Revelation Film Festival that will take place at the Astor Theatre in Mt Lawley July 8-18. Howl screens on Sat 10 (2.30pm) and Sun 11 July (9.15pm) and is well worth seeing. Check out the other 30 feature films and 50 short films at www.revelationfilmfest.org and think about purchasing a mini pass, or even a gold pass that is valid for all films excluding opening night.
Lezly Herbert
